Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault    

    GAZA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli air-to-ground rocket was fired at predawn on Wednesday at the building of the Interior Ministry in the Hamas-led government in Gaza City, witnesses and security sources reported.

Two Palestinian firefighters survey a damaged building next to the Palestinian Interior Ministry, following an air strike in Gaza City, early July 5, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    Witnesses said that a huge explosion was heard after a rocket was fired by a reconnaissance pilotless drone, which had directly hit the third and fourth floors of the Interior Ministry in Remal neighborhood in Gaza City.

    They added that they saw a pillar of white smoke is coming out from the building and ambulances and firefighters arrived at the scene and took five civilians living close to the ministry to hospital for treatment.

    It's the second time that Israeli air forces are targeting the building of the Interior Ministry within the last four days. The building includes interior minister Said Siam, who is also a senior leader of the ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza.

    Meanwhile, witnesses said that the Israeli drones fired another rocket at an elementary school run by Hamas movement in northern Gaza City neighborhood, causing severe damage to the school, which was empty. No injuries were reported.

    The Israeli military offensive called Summer Rains aims according to Israel to free an Israeli soldier that was abducted by militants during an armed ambush carried out into an Israeli army base southeast of Gaza Strip last week. Enditem

People look at the damaged building of the Palestinian Interior Ministry, following an air strike in Gaza City, early July 5, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)